A former prime minister of Ethiopia has been convicted of corruption and abuse of power during his term in office.

Tamirat Layne, who was prime minister between 1991 and 1994 and deputy prime minister until he was sacked in 1997, was found of guilty of illegally exporting textiles and coffee, and fraudulently winning a construction contract when cheaper bids had been tendered.

The court will pass sentence on Mr Tamirat next week.

He could face up to twenty-five years in prison.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service